Learning english at the university

In my case, I've been started learning english at the university in the level of preintermediate, the second semester of the year 2009. Even this level is the last accord the basic university program, I thought that I could learn more because I like the english, so I continued the course the first semester of 2010, but as an elective course. So, I can say that I was learning english in the university for a complete year. I also think that in future I could take the next elective in english, for can be prepared and ready to take the TOEFL. But this expectations are for further, because I want to take the TOEFL when I'll be almost ready in the university. This is because i've realized that english is important, but the other courses take from you so much time, and if you really want to learn you most do it when you have time and no pressures from the other courses.

It's hard do put so much dedication when you have anatomy (for example), or phisiology, because these courses (at least for me) have taked off my life, and I really don't had so much time for sleep or do something else, so when I was very pressed I had to stop to put all the attencion to other courses, and I recognize that english sometimes was one of them, but no for being lazy, but for the quizes in the afternoon. Anyway, I think that this elective in the university is very pleasurable because it's not a course were you have to give hard exams or homeworks, and really it's not very hard, so you can go to english and don't feel stress.

In the preintermediate level, the most liked activity for me was when we saw a video about cats, from National Geografic, because I think that I've learned so much of it! I really like dogs and cats, but I don't know so much about cats, and I've learned interesting things about them. In the pilot level, the activity that I liked the most was when we had to make a video with a song and pictures of the letter, but I felt frustraited when I realized that 2 more people had the same song that me.. but those, are details, I enjoyed making the video. But what I really appreciate from this course was in the preintermediate level, when we received a paper were a veterinarian had exposed some tips for being an good and succesfull profesional, and I apreciate that because those things are not taught in anatomy, or economy, or each course of the university, but they were in english :)

In conclusion, I have a nice feeling about this course, and I think that I will continue in a next elective, in a few years more.

Challenges in my discipline

My discipline, as the discipline of all of us, is facing challenges related to mixed areas. Some of these areas are technology, social matters and education.

In the technology area, some of the challenges for me are:

Face the new technology, and show interest on it: I'm a person who likes the new technology, but doen't knows how to use it and always needs helps to use it at the beggining. Today, the technology is increasing in all areas, and sometimes that's a little difficult for me. I think I could resolve this challenge showing more interest in learn about technology, but it's a little hard for me because I'm really not much interested in this area, I like new things in technology, but easier. The critical issue involved in this area is my interest.

In the soccial matters, some of the challenges for me are:

Accept different points of view of the things that I do or I like. I allways thought that we are free to do things and to have our opinions, but I really hate when someone tell me bad thing about what I'm doing, studing, or claiming. I think I could resolve this having more tolerance with differents opinions, and do not taking the opinions as something bad. the critical issue involved in this area is my tolerance level.

Try to not show heaviness: sometimes, i'm really apathetic with other people because I heard something bad that they said about me, or they act apathetic with me, like pass at my side and not say hi, (I mean, it's so hard to be nice??) or talking you just when they need something, and then they forget you. I really hate this attitudes, and when someones does this, I'm really heavy. I think I could resolve this ignoring to these people, or ignoring these acts, but it's hard for me.

the critical issue involved in this area is my hability to show ripeness.

In the education, some challenges for me are:

Learn as I most: sometimes I study just for the test, and not for learn about what I'm doing. I could resolve this planning better my time for study. the critical issue involved in this area is the time.

The Guardian: Can you hurt a chimp's feelings?

The article starts reflexing: it's an invasion of privacy to film an animal on it's burrow? Some people think that it is, because if an animal retreats to its burrow, obviously doesn't want to be seen. The reflexion suggests that we have to take care for not disrupt wild animal behaviour, because animals can assume emotions, as a human does.

The journal current biology shows a video were some chimps apparently mourning the death of Pansy, an elderly member of the troop. The chimps gathered around her, moving her bedding gently and checking her breathing, then stood silently their arms around each others shoulders. This video received widespread media coverage, most of it sympathetic the idea the idea that animals, especially primates, share human emotions such as grief, sadness and even empathy.

In a report, the profesor Marc Bekoff claims to have widnessed a magpie funeral, where a group of magpies brought pieces of grass to the body of one of their members killed by a bike, and the accounts of how elephants often gather around a dead or dying animal.

The author of this report show interest in this subject because she wanted to put and end to claims of human superiority based on the belief that animals doesn't feel like the human does, because humans have self-awareness. She also concerned that this attitude of belief human's superiority derives from Judeo-Christian, who claim that God created the universe and life within it for man, and the dominance, expliotation and abuse of animals it's justified. However, the author said that changing our conciousness and increasing interest in animal emotions, our relationships with other species will be better.

Doctor Stuart Semple is involved in the study of animal behaviour, and concerned that the video is a classic case of anthropomorphism, the projection of human feelings on animals, wich in chimps is easier because of their physiological resemblance to humans. The Daily Mail Coverage shows this point: in one photo (the picture of this summary), a chimp with a rather ambiguous expression is shown sitting holding a banana. The caption reads: "Chippy the chimp looks downcast while clutching a banana in an enclosure". They want to mark the difference between say this, and say: "Chippy sits in his enclosure clutching his stolen banana", because this last claim changes totally the intencion to show animals feelings.

However, the author claims that the anthropomorphism is an insult because is one of the key ways in wich the human species has been able to disregard the abuse inflicted on animals. this is because, for the author, anthropomorphism disregards animal's welfware issues and promoted the human as the center of the universe. Nevertheless, Semple is right to suggest caution, because his real issue is less a dispute about the existence of animal emotions, and more a matter of establishing what exactly it is animals might be feeling. Semple points to recent research that measured stress and social responses in baboons who had lost close relatives. Bereaved baboons showed an increase in stress hormones and in levels of social grooming: very similar responses to humans. "This kind of evidence is more compelling," says Semple. "It's rigorous and scientific. It allows us to speculate on what they are feeling or not."

Finally, the author concludes: "If we assume animals have identical emotions to humans, perhaps we will insist on treating them as human. But until we know what animals really feel and what those feelings are, then treating them as identical to humans might be just as cruel as ignoring their feelings".

"What if that study revealed the animal's dependency on a species of plant or the need for conditions that were threatened elsewhere? If we failed to study, to film and to observe, we might lose that creature altogether. All of which suggests that investigating what exactly animals are feeling is one of the most pressing areas of contemporary research".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/30/chimpanzees-emotions-ethics

Faculty Facilities

My faculty: Veterinary science and livestock, university of Chile.

Particulary, this faculty of the university of chile is ubicated at the south of Santiago, in the commune "La Pintana". This situacion has been always difficult for most of the part of students, teachers, workers, etc, because it's too far from the rest of the city and also it's placed in one of the most dangerous communes of the city. These points makes that all the ones that go to this faculty have to deal with: how to get there, and how to be safe from criminals.

Even we can't do anything for change these situations, maybe we can improvement more security measures, for example, using the buses of the faculty.

Another situation that I think that could be better is the feeding in the university. The university should improve more measures, like stablish a big casino, with lower prices and more menus for eat. I think this because the menu in the faculty is one per day and it's very expensive.

The first steps to dealing with this situacion would make formal these requests, and then, focus in the costs of improvements.

I would resolve this situacion through the center of students of veterinary medicine (CEV), because this entity represents all the students to the autorities.

The beneficts of these improvements could be: best security and better feeding.

The real impacts: the costs of improvements.

Further, we can focus in another ways to resolve these problems but with lower costs.

My favourite animal: the dog

The dog.. an amazing partner of life! Since I was a child I remember that the dogs are a very important part of me. the reason? their loyalty and their capacity of showing love.

The dog is a very common animal here in Chile, you can ask and there is so much people who has one of them. The dogs have so much kinds of breeds, sizes and shapes, and different personalities. You can see small dogs, like 'Chihuahuas' or 'Poodles', or big dogs, like 'San Bernardos' or 'Gran Daneses'. There are some dogs bad calificated as bravery dogs, like 'Pitbulls' or 'Rotweillers'. This happens because these breeds are agressives, but is the owner who trains the caracter of the pet. some dogs are also called "pocket pets", because they are very small and keeps easily in the handbag, and also are very lovely.

The reason that makes me choose the dog as my favourite animal is the same reason why I'm studing veterinary medicine. when I was a child I had so many cats, I growed up wathing them having their babies, playing, and living with my family, since one day I asked: why does whe have so many cats but not a dog? and my family bring to our home a mongrel, called Tanque. he was a mix of a german shepherd (pastor alemán) and something else... I was the happiest girl in all the world! tanque was a member of my family, a dog that I will never forget.. one day, my family and I had to leave the city and my dad told me that we can't take tanque with us, and that he will let him to another family... but with the past of the time, I found that he leaves tanque to his faith because no one else wanted him.... oooohh I remember how I cried when I knew that! That notice had broken my heart, and after that I said to my self "that it can't happen again, I swear it!"
Two years later, someone else arrives to my home! Pelusa, a small poodle was moving her tale in the sofa, and I was so happy! this time was different because she stays with us and had her own babies. but shortly after birth, she died.. then, I remember that I said "I should have done something else to save her", but the veterinarian said that there's nothing else to do. So, I was thinking about tanque and pelusa and I decided to do something for not allow the animal neglect and for keep healty the animals (specially, the dogs): being a veterinarian! yes, that experiences in my life had make me decided my career, because tanque and pelusa had just wanted love and a happy and healthy life, and in their memory I will try that any dog or animal that I attend, could have what they had looking for.
That's why I love the dogs, because they need so much help and love, that they can't live without us. Actually, I have nine dogs in my house in Copiapó, two of them are the babies of Pelusa and the others are her grandbabies.

Santiago: A place to visit

Santiago has so many sights and activities worth seeing and doing that it's hard to limit the recommendations to only 5 items. Here’s my list of things to do in Santiago, Chile. These are the things that I really love about Santiago.

Bellavista: The ultimate nightlife sector of Santiago is also very centrally located. Tons of bars (for drinking), discotecas (for dancing and drinking), and restaurants (for eating, and of course, drinking). There is also plenty to do here during the day, but be on your guard at night as there are many drunks and people looking to take advantage of outsiders. I choose Bellavista because I love the nightlife, and Bellavista it's open even in the day, so it doesn't matter the hour, you can have fun!

Parque Arauco: If you want to see where the upper echelon of Santiago buys its clothes, check out some of the department stores at this huge indoor/outdoor mall. Has a year-round ice-skating rink, stores of all the marks, my favourites: Nike, Adidas, Zara, and others, a Hoyts Cinema, outdoor Restaurants and live music Saturday evenings. I love this mall because the infrastructure is very beautifull, combines the modern with nature (outside), and inside is so chic!

Lastarria: One of the more bohemian streets in Santiago, go for a stroll at night and pick from one of the many restaurants, sushi bars or cafés to eat at. During the day/evening, there are a few street vendors that cater to the more sophisticated crowd, like the guy who sells original prints of historic Chilean newspaper editions or prints with beautifull grounds, including express portraits. You can also head towards Museo Bellas Artes from here and there are even more mid-upper range restaurants, cafés and bars to chose from. There’s also an art theater that plays principally foreign films on Lastarria. I choose Lastarria because, even I went once time, I liked the bohemian life... and the sushi bars!

Central Market (Mercado Central): After walking around the fish market of Santiago, have a meal at one of the restaurants. Although touristy and a bit overpriced, you’ll find the most exquisite seafood in the city, including crabs the size of a basketball. While you’re here, check out La Vega Central, the biggest fruit market in Chile (a whole city block), just across the river from Mercado Central. If you go to the central market, you should have a Terremoto at la piojera. The terremoto (translation: earthquake) is a Santiago drink that every traveler needs to try. What is it? A mix of wine, pisco (a domestic liquor made from grapes), pineapple ice cream, and a hint of grenadine. Make sure to mix well and you will walk out feeling like a tremor just hit you. La Piojera is only a minute’s walk from Mercado Central. I Choose the market because the food in here is exquisit! and it's full of tourists. The only thing that disturbs me a little bit is that the sellers practically throw over you, for your choise to their restaurant.

Patronato: Patronato is a market that begins at the metro station with the same name. It has tons of clothes and accesories from every prices! it's cheapper than Parque Arauco, and sometimes, the clothes are the same. I love it because there's always a piece like made for me.

There are so much more places to visit in Santiago, but these are those that I love the most.

Death Penalty

Death penalty is a topic very discused in all the world, because it's a punishment for criminals but it's used only in some countries. Forms of execution include death by lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, and firing squad.

Even we know that death penalty involves end with the life, I've got a different point of view, because here in Chile we have very high numbers of criminals, and with the pass of the time this numbers are getting higher. I think this happens because the justice in this country isn´t so hard, and the criminals do whatever they want. If we could have the death penalty, I´m sure that the numbers of violations, murders and other crimes would decrease, because criminals will have fear about the sentence.

But, even I agree with death penalty, I think that it most be used in extreme cases, like serial killers or violators. I think this people kills in life not just to the victim, but also the family, and that pain will never leave their hearts. So, if some one tells me "it's a life, we can´t take it off to the criminal because we're nobody to do something like that", I answer "he took one life to (maybe more), and the lifes of the victim's family"... besides, we see this from outside, but what would happens if someone do something to us, or to our family? we would like to kill him! (her), or to make justice! I allways watch in the news "the violator goes to prision.. for 2 - 3 years".. isn't that terrible? how does the family feel with a sentence like that? or "falls serial killer. He has previous criminal records for 3 violations and sexual harassment"... that means that he didn´t go to prision!! that's terrible, I really hate this guys, and the justice to.

I think that there are so much kinds of criminals, but in summary, one is the freak that act because is sick, got a trauma, etc, and the other do this just for a stupid thing, like a fight or with alcohol, etc. The point is, that if we could have death penalty established here in chile, the crimes will low down, and more in the second point (stupid crimes) because there will be a conciousness about the punishment.

I don't think that most be used in accidents or some crimes that not afect the life, for example, the drug trafficants, the thieves, the scammers, etc, but I agree to used it in killers and violators.